Molten composition comprising polyvinyl ester and octadecanediol, and process for making same



United States Patent 3,004,948 MOLTEN COMPOSITION COMPRISING POLY- VINYL ESTER AND OCTADECANEDIOL, AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME Guido von Rosenberg and Walter Brotz, Gersthofen, near Augsburg, Germany, assignors to Farbwerke Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft vormals Meister Lucius & Bruning, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, a corporation of Germany No Drawing. Filed July 24, 1958, Ser. No. 750,582 Claims priority, application Germany July 27, 1957 9 Claims: (Cl. 260-334) The present invention-relates to compositions of matter comprising polyvinyl esters and a process for their manufacture.

Commercial polyvinyl acetates and polyvinyl propionates possess high melt viscosities as also do the lowmolecular weight types thereof. These high melt viscosities prohibit processing the material from the fused mass as it is desired, for example, when using cast-in materials or for the coating of sheets and papers according to the hot-melt process.

In order to be able to use polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl propionate for these purposes, it is necessary to reduce their melt viscosities to such an extent that they may still be processed at temperatures ranging between 100 C. and 200 C.

Said reduction in viscosity can be attained by adding solvents or plasticizers such as phthalates. These solvents, however, have to be removed from the mixture after the latter has been processed up. In the first place, this procedure is rather expensive and, secondly, a complete elimination of the solvent is imposible since residues of these substances are persistently retained by the high-polymeric substance. When working according to this method there is, consequently obtained a material which has an undesirable odor.

If, on the other hand, plasticizers are employed which remain in the final product, the latter is greatly prejudiced in its mechanical properties. The plasticizers, moreover, may start undesirable side-reactions by migration, especially in sheets.

Now, we have found that octadecane-diol, a hard, waxlike substance obtained, for example, by the energetic hydrogenation of castor oil (1,12 octadecane-diol) or by the epoxylation of oleic acid and subsequent reduction can, at temperatures ranging from 100 C. to 200 C., be easily and homogeneously incorporated into polyvinyl acetate and/or polyvinyl propionate in amounts up to 50%, suitably of more than 2%, and preferably ranging from 10% to 30%, calculated on the total mixture (i.e. calculated practically on the total amount of polyvinyl ester and octadecane-diol). The viscosity of polyvinyl acetate and/or polyvinyl propionate is thereby reduced to such an extent that corresponding mixtures can already be processed at 120 C. in the above-mentioned manner.

When adding octadecane-diol, the reduction in viscosity is much more pronounced than when using the same amounts of plasticizer such as dioctyl phthalate. It is, however, of decisive importance that in the mixtures according to the invention polyvinyl acetate or polyvinyl propionate maintain their characteristic properties, such as hardness, strength and toughness, while these qualities would be destroyed by the addition of a plasticizer. It is, moveover, advantageous that octadecane-diol reduces the tendency of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl propionate to agglomerate at a raised temperature and/or at a higher pressure (blocking) while imparting to these substances an ivory aspect which is desirable for many purposes. The low melt viscosity, moreover, facilitates the admixture of fillers of all kinds, such as carbon black,

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kaolin, diatomaceous earth'and inorganic or organic pigments, such as iron oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, barium sulfate, Berlin blue, chromous oxide, minium, phthalocyanine dyestuffs, and the like.

By the addition of octadecane-diol, the viscosity of melts of polyvinyl acetates or polyvinyl propionates can be improved, which should suitably have a K-value of 20-80, preferably 30-70. However, good results are also obtained when adding octadecane-diol to polyvinyl acetates or polyvinyl propionates having higher or lower K- values. Such mixtures containing polyvinyl acetate or polyvinyl propionate may, for example, be used for the coating of paper, cardboard, wood, etc., in order to provide these materials with a waterproof, heat-sealing coating.

The following examples serve to illustrate the invention, but they are not intended to limit it thereto:

Example 1 Polyvinyl Acetate (molecular weight about 20,000)

Weight of dioctyl phthalate weight of oetadecanediol In a pure state Viscosity in centipoises at 0-- 57, 000 7, 900 2, 800

Because of its high viscosity, the pure material cannot be processed by casting or coating by means of rollers, while the mixtures with octadecane-diol may be processed in this manner.

Example 2 There were measured the changes in the mechanical strength of polyvinyl acetate in the pure state having a molecular weight of 20,000 and of mixtures thereof with various additives having viscosity-reducing properties:

In 3 +20% by weight +20% by pure of dioetylweight of state phthalate octadecane-diol Breaking load 1 in grams 1,610 200, does not 1,100

break, flabby. Indentation hardness 1 (ball 40 No longer 44 pressure test) elastic deiormeasurable. mation. Permanent deformation Too soft 270 1 Measured by a bilaterally supported test bar having a cross section ngli g: penetration (in 10- mm.) of a ball having a diameter of 5 mm. under a load of 10 kilos/5 sec.

The above figures show that the mechanical properties of products containing plasticizers are highly and detrimentally afiected although the viscosity of such a fused mass is by far higher than that of mixtures of polyvinyl acetate with octadecane-diol.

Obviously many modifications and varations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We'claim: 7 7

l. A composition of matter comprising at least one polyvinyl ester of a saturated fatty acid having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms and 2- to 50 percent of octadecane diol calculated upon the total mixture. r

2 A composition of matter comprising at least one polyvinyl ester of a saturated fatty acid having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms and 1.0 to 30 percent of octadecane diol, calculated upon the total mixture.

3. A composition of matter comprising at least one polyvinyl ester of a. saturated fatty acid having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms and 2 to 50 percent of 1, 12 octadecane diol,calculated upon the total mixture.

to 3 carbon atoms and 10 to' 30%, calculated upon the total 'mixture, of octadecane diol, said: polyvinyl ester' 6. A composition of matter consisting essentially of a mixture of polyvinyl acetate and 10 to 3 0 percent of octadecane diol comprising 1,12 octadecane diol, calculated upon .the totalmixtfl're.

v7. A composition of matter as claimed in claim 6 which additionally containsairinert pigment.

8. A process for the manufacture of hot melts of at least one polyvinyl. ester of saturated fatty acids from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, which melts have a reduced viscosity which comprises adding to the hot melt of said polyvinyl esters 2 to 50 percent, calculated upon the total mixture, of octadecane diol to produce a homogeneous molten mixture. 7 p v p 9. A process as claimed in claim 8 wherein 10 to percent oi octadecane diol calculatedupon the mixture of polyvinyl ester andoctadeeane diol is added.

No references; cited. 

1. A COMPOSITION OF MATTER COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE POLYVINYL ESTER OF A SATURATED FATTY ACID HAVING FROM 2 TO 3 CARBON ATOMS AND 2 TO 50 PERCENT OF OCTADECANE DIOL CALCULATED UPON THE TOTAL MIXTURE. 